Collapsible vehicle top



A il 3 1927.

pr H. e: MILLER COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE TOP Filed Dec. 30. 1925 HAROLD GORDON MILLER INVENTOR BYf I}:

" ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

its stars TITCHENER CORPORATION, OF CORTLAND, YORK, A CQBBORATIQN OENEW YORK.

ooL ArsrBLE rror,

Application filed December 30, serial 110. 78,353.

This invention relates more particularly to automobiletops of the so-called.one-man clear-vision type and is characterized by the use of an improved disposition of an articulated bipartite main bow, of which the rear member or section is pivotally carried by the respective support standards in CEllllJlr lever fashion through the medium of a pair of complementary links attached to each side rail of said cantilever bow section, while the extreme forward or outrigger section is pivotally adjoined to the tree ends of said rails'to COIlStltHtQit closed loop, such that when the top is placed in open or extended position, both of the bipartite bow sections.

will extend'in a substantially aligned relation over the trim line of the vehicle body.

The object the present invention is the adaptation of such bipartite bow or hoop for support by a single set of rearwardly in-.

clin'ed support standards pivoted to the respective body sides, and to provide suitable guide linkage means whereby the indicated extended outrigger section may readily be collapsed alongside its standards. I The present invention'is more largely directed toward a top frame work requiring a relatively long overhungspanpreferably resting betwe'en'said rear standards and the windshield stanchions ofthe car, especially such tops as may be applied to the phaeton type oi? automobile body. a

"In the present embodiment, the main bow comprises an outrigger and a cantilever hoop section and each such section is preterably made essentially U shaped and'provided with relatively long leg or rail ends.

. The crown or transverse element ofthe first named or forwardbow sefct ion may be disposed along the front of thetop While the crown of the last named bow section preterably defines the rear edge of the top, the respective leg ends of said bipartite" bows being directed toward each other and pivoted together by a rule joint or other suitable type of knuckle stop means. This bipartite structure "as pivotally mounted about the supporting stanc lards', may be ciounterp oised by means of strainer straps or the like.

' There are also provided "a plurality of supplemental bows, the e ndsthereot. being Pr erably riveted t he w av s i jf. ee ira i shea s? ssiitdii side rails. In conjunction with suchsupplemental bows, interconnecting slot link means are used to pivotally tie'np' these bows with the outrigger section and likewise with the snpport standardsfwhereby the top structure mayeither be folded or extended without dependence upon the fabric cover for giving coordinated movement to the com ponent top members as a whole.

stunner feature of the present invention resides in upwardly pro ecting one of each set of the indicated guide links beyondthe TFFEQ 1 HARoLneoRDoN MILLER, or. nor/inn, NEWPYIQQK, sw ats TO THE, BREWER- level of the raised cantilever bow section. and each qfthese projections is preferably 1 eqnipt' with a rule oint adapted to carry the complementary leg ends of oneof my supple.-

niental bQws. v

. Embodied herein are further features of structure and organization to accomplishthe foregoing and relatedpurposes, all of which y will be set forth i in detail hereinafter.

Reference had to the annexed one sheet drawing which is illustratlve of a specific embodiment of my invention, like characters of 'reiier en ce indicate like parts throughout the several views: and in which drawings 1 shows a sectional elevational view as seen'froni the interior of a top supporting str iicture embodying my improvements as applied to. an automobile bodyythe top'being here shown in its raised or extended position.

Fig 2 is a fragmental side view in partial section indicating the relationassumed by the top elements when in a partially col' ingsinerely show the structure required to complete one side ot my tpi yit" will manifest that this same "mechanism is to be provided in dnplicate for theother side of y and=that thetransverse as t ease sides,- 7

to form a unitary top structure adapted to support and mount the cover fabric.

Referring now in detail to thedrawings,

the cover fabric designated in' its entirety by the numeral 1, is approprlately stretched over said top structure in the-customary manner, the frame work the present disclosure being shown as constructed of rectangular slat irons instead of the more usual tubular bow sockets. The top structure as a whole is primarily supported by a single set of standards such as 2,' which are respectively pivoted upon the outer sides of the body or tonneau 3 by means of the props or fulcrum irons such as -4.-. Said standards are preferably inclined rear-o wardly and upwardly in the direction of the such shortened standard is equipt with a suitable pivot 5 which mounts the guide link 6-. In raised top position, said link i is preferably inclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to the standard .2,

while the other end portion of the link -6 is provided with a pivot 7- which carries the cantilever section of my articulated bipartite bow andh olds the level of the raised main bow in spacedrelation to said upper ends of the standards and it will be observed that said link 6 is preferably of the rigid or inflexible type having no collapsible joints disposed between the fulcrums 5 and 7 This cantilever hoop section is designated in its entirety as 8, and comprises two leg or side rail elements such. as 8*, and when the top is extended, these side rails are intended to lie in a level above the raised ends of the standards and in a plane substantially parallel to that of the respective longitudinal trim line 3 of the body sides, while the connecting crown member 8 is overl'mng reaiwvardly of the standards and preferably lies directly above the transverse body trim line 3 I Each of the free ends of the cantilever rails such as 8 is provided with a rule or other suitable knuckle stop joint means ,8' adapted to break downwardly as indicated. The respective joints carry the cooperating free end of the bow legs 9 of which serves to pivotally support my bipartite bow sections tand 9 it will be observed that the first. named section 8 is pivotally mounted so that the rails are made to extend rearward of the standards in cantileverfas hion. In additionto the, descr e guide 111 6+ there i a o pro- This how 9- is'like vided a complementary brace link -10- of which one end portion is joined to one of the cantilever side rails 8 by the pivot 1l, While the other end of the rearwardly and downwardly disposed link -10 is joined to one of the standards 2 intermediate the'ends thereof bythe lever rail embraced between the pivots 7 and 11; anoppositely disposed link embraced between the pivots 5 and .12; the transversely disposed guide link 6; and finally the brace link 10 which. completes said polygon.

It is pointed out that the two last named links, that is to say 6 and 10 are disposed wholly forward of the standard 2,. and that such double complementary link tiesextending between the cantilever section 8; and i the standard, act conjointly as a unitary means to guide theformer into either its collapsed or extended position with respect to the latter. Furthermore as is shown in Figs. -2 and 3, both rail ends of said links 6and 10 are made to swing upward about their respective. spaced pivots 5- and .IQ- and away from the standard fulcrum prop l Thus when the cantilever section 8 is fully collapsed, its side rails will be brought into juxtaposition alongside the respective standards while the links -6 and 10 assume a common oblique relation crosswise ofthe standard in the fashion indicated by c Fig. 3. During the collapsing operation the relatively long bipartite bow sections -8- and 9.- are drawn towardthe outer free extremity of the standard 2 and when the top parts finally reach their fully collapsed positions, the rule joint -8 may be made to shift back of the body fulcrum iron 4 in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

In connection with the described cantilever fashion of mounting for the rear bow section 8, it is'expedient to utilize the strainer straps 1 preferably, fastened to the transverse overhung bow crown 8 and the rear body trim line ,3 as shown in Fig. 1, and itwill be apparent that the strainersserve as reenforcements to relieve the pullthat would otherwise come upon the rearcover fabric 1 It is also preferred to draw the forward portion of the outrigger bow section ..-=9- down against the windshield stanchion 2 to provide for supplemental top support means in the customary manner.

My top may further be equipt with one ormore supplemental bows, preferably disposed to bridge the side rails of the cantilever section 8. To this end each guide link such as 6, may be made to project upward beyond the upper edge of the raised side rail 8-* and provide for the link extension 6, of which the outer free end is equipped with a rule or other suitable knuckle joint means -13 To these cornplementary extensions are attachedthe respective leg ends l3 *of supplemental how 13 and the connection therewith is preferably made in such fashion that said rule oint is allowed to break downwardly when the top is setup in raised position, said how legs 13 then lying in substantial alignment with the link 6 and pense with the supplemental joints 13,

especially so when the conditions are such as will still allow of sufficiently close crashing without encountering undue interference with the members of the top frame. i

Fig. 4 discloses in detail, the preferred lateral disposition of my linkage arrangements. It will be seen that one end portion of the brace link -10 may be mounted adjacent to the inner slat iron face of the cantilever side rails 8 while the other end thereof may be pivoted to theinner side face of the standard 2; The guide link 6 is similarly disposedand is preferably made to lie'in' a common vertical plane with that of the brace link R1O such that the slat iron of the side rail -8 and the standard 2' are made to fall intov substantial alignment. To this end, the reartransverse bow leg '..-13 is preferablysecured to the outer face of itsslat iron whichin turn is attached to the rule-joint 13 V-,

while the leg end of wooden crown member 8 may be attached to'the outer face of the slat iron rail element of the cantilever that projects rearward fromthe-ruleplemental' bow may be mounted the pivots ::l44-- and these jointsvv are I preferably placed intermediatewthe; joint;

8 andv the rear supplementalbow pivots 7, and in the raised. position of .the top, said how 14c' will be inclined in a substantially parallel relation to that .of the complementary rear bow '13-..

These supplemental bows may be inter? connected with respect to the outrigger sec-- tion 9 in lazy tong fashion by means of suitable lever straps or slotlinks as shown in Fig. l, the rear.link15 being pivotally connected to the bow leg, 13 ''at the point l5- and thence extending forwardly to the pivot l5 carried by the bow leg +14 9. A second-or, forward link 16 similarly connects the 'pivOt .16

with the pivot 16 the latter being, carried by the outrigger leg -9* and thus serves to impart concordant'action to all of the component top elements while they are being manipulated.

. Having described the details of my top I the showing of the top in its severalstages of collapse. It will be observed that by virtue of the system of links 15'[ and" --16, the top maybe folded as a unit lifting the outrigger crown 9 to break the rule joint 8.-.',- which in turn will actuate the described polygon linkage in unison with such; movement andconc'urrently cause the rule joint 13* to break therewith, said joint 8 being made to swing backwardly and downwardly toward the fulcrum'iron as indicated in Fig.

structure, it is thought that the mode of, operation will readily be understood from 2. In their completely collapsed position, i

the top members assume the folded relation shown in Fig. 3, when said knuckle joint 8 will be drawn lengthwise of the sup-.

port standard 2, and--the end 11 of the brace link 10- and the rule joint end of the guide link -6- will then be directed outwardly and away from the standard fulcrum 4 i-, all without allowing any of the bow elements to .drop below or come into contact with the adjacent body parts during the crashing-operation, a feature which obviates marring or otherwise defacing the body-finish;

Anotheradvantage inherent in my im proved top structure resides in fewness of the parts as applied to long span tops and the compactness with which it is possible to collapse this improved type of top. This objective is furthered by theuseof therule joint +13 e since this allows, of swinging I downward and breaking the overhanging portion of the, crashed supplemental rear; bow .-e' l3.. andthus serves to effect'a close disposition. of the collapsed bow members.

Asa further advantage, the bow 13,-. in.

itsopenposition may be given any desired inclinat on with respect to the. cantilever side rails .-8 .--irrespective of the: correpe d ngeag e-s n to ithee rais d nk;

when the top 'is raised, the rear strainer ten-v sion straps such as l maintain a downward pull upon the overhung cantilever crown member 8 the unbalanced mo-- mentexerted by such straps being taken up through the locked rule joints 8 and 13 which in turn is counterpoised by a downward pull at the stanchion 2 any incidental adjustment on part of the top frame being provided for with respect tothe standard 2 through the medium of the described polygon linkage. In its raised position, said linkage is therefore securely locked with respect to the body fulcrum l and the top franiing'as a whole presents an unusually rigid and staple structure and particularly so against any downwardly thrust that may be imposed at the jointed leg members 8 and '9 or aiming to break the bow lock joint -18. Furthermore, an exceptionally low deck quarter depth can be attained with my improved top arrangement and this feature imparts a stylish and otherwise distinctive appearance to long span tops.

Although a specific embodiment and shape of top structure have herein been described in detail, I do not wish to be limited to any particular arrangement or form of parts, since various changes maybe resorted to, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, heretofore described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Claims c I 1. In a collapsible top frame for vehicle bodies and the like, the combination of a bipartite main bow comprising an outrigger hoop section and a cantilever hoop section, the latter having a pair of side-rails pivotally adjoined to thelegs of the outrigger hoop and adapted to extend in substantial alignment therewith when raised over the body; a set of support standards pivotally connect-- ed to the respective sides ofthe body, the upper ends of the standards being kept below and spaced from the raised side-rails; a guide-link for each side-rail which link is pivoted to its respective'railintermediate saidrai'l ends and is disposed to project upwardly above its rail to provide an extension while another portion of the guide-link is pivotally connected to said upper end por-' 'tion of its support standard; a brace-link for each side-rail which link is pivotally attached to its adjacent standard between the aforesaid guide-link pivot and the body pivot of the standard and also pivoted to its side-rail forwardly of the guide-link pivot; said guide and brace-links being adapted conjointly to guide said cantilever section into collapsed position. alongside the respective standards; a supplemental bow bridging the siderails, the legs of said bow being pivotally connected to the respective link extensions by knuckle stop-joint means; link means interconnecting the supplemental bow with the outrigger section; a strainer strap attached to the cantilever hoop rearwardly of said support standard pivots and adapted body; a set of support standards pivotally connected tothe respective sides of the, body, the upper ends of the standards being kept below and spaced from the raised side-rails; I a guide-link for each side-rail which link is pivoted to its respective rail intermediate the ra1l ends and projects upwardly beyond said raised rail to serve as an extension, while a another portion of the guide-link is pivotally connected to the end portion of its support standard; a brace-link forgeach side-rail which link is pivotally attached to its adjacent standard between the aforesaid guide link pivot and the body pivot ofthe standard and also pivoted to its side-rail forwardly of the guide-link pivot, said guide and brace links with their respective side rail and standard constituting a polygon type of linkage adapted toconjointly guide the cantilever section into collapsed position along side its respective support standard; a supplemental bow bridging said side-rails, the legs of said how being piv-otally connected to the respective extensions; and link means interconnecting the supplemental, bow with -1i5 the outrigger sections 7 3. In a collapsible top frame for vehicle bodies and the like, the combinationof a bipartite main bow'comprising an outrigger hoop section and a cantilever hoop section, the latter having a pair ofside-rails pivotally adjoined to the legs of the outrigger hoop and adapted to extend in substantial align- I ment therewith when raised over the body; a'set of support standards pivotally connected to the respective sides of the body, the

upper ends of the raised standards being kept below and spaced from the side-rails; a guide-link for each side-rail which link is pivoted to its respective rail intermediate said rail ends tolproject upwardly beyond I said raised rail to serve as an extension,

while another portion ofthe guide-link is pivotally connected to said upper end portion of its support standard; a brace-link for each side-rail which link is pivotally attached to its adjacent standard between the aforesaid guide-link pivot and the body pivot of the standard and also pivoted to its side rail forwardly of the guide-link pivot, said gulde and brace -link being adapted.

conjointly to guide said cantilever section into collapsed position alongside the respective standards; a supplementalbow bridging the side-rails, the legs of said how sloping obliquely downwardly and rearwardly top position.

4;. In a collapsible top frame for vehicle bodies and the like, the combination of a bi partite main bow comprising an outrigger hoop section and a cantilever hoop section, the latter having a pair of side-rails pivotally adjoined to the legs of the outrigger hoop and adapted to extend, in substantial alignment therewith when raised over the body, a set of support standards pivotally connected to the respective sides of the body, the upper ends of the standards being kept below and spaced from the raised side-rails; a guidelink for eachside-rail which link is pivoted to its respective rail intermediate said rail ends and projects upwardly beyond the raised rail to serve as an extension, while another portion of the guide-link is pivotally connectedto the upper end portion of its support standard; a brace-link for each side rail which link is pivotally attached to its adjacent standard between the guide-link and the body pivot of the standard, while another portion of the brace-link i pivoted to its side-rail forwardly of the guidelink pivo t, said guide and brace links being disposed wholly forward of the standards and serving conjointly to guide said cantilever section into collapsed position along-side the respective standards; a supplemental bow bridging said rails, the leg ends of said how being secured to the respective extensions; and link means interconnecting the supplemental lJOW'WItlI the outrlgger SGCtlOIl'SQI'V- ing to impart concordant action to all component top elements between their extended and collapsed positions. a i

5. In ac'ollapsible top frame for vehicle bodies and the like, thecombination of'a bipartite main bowcornprising an outrigger hoop section and a cantilever hoopsection, the latter having a pair of side-railspivotally adjoined to the legs of the outrigger lioop and adapted to'extend' in substantial alignment therewith when raised overthe body, a-set of support standards pivotally below and spaced from said level of the 'siddrails'; a guide-link for each side-rail which link is pivotedvto its: respective rail intermediate said rail ends andv projects upwardly beyond theraised rail to serve as an extension, while another portion of the guide-link is pivotally connected tosaid up-' per end portion of its'su'pport standard; a brace-link for each side-rail which link is pivotally attached to its adj acent standard between the aforesaid guide link pivot and j-th'e body pivot. of the standard and also pivoted to its siderrail forwardly of the guide-link pivot, said guide and brace links being disposed wholly forward of the standaids and adapted conjointly to guide said cantilever section into collapsed position alongside the respective standards whereconnected to the respective sides of the body, a the upper ends of the standards being kept upon said rail ends of both the brace and guide-links will in consequence be directed outwardly and away from the respective standard body pivots andassume a substan' tial parallel relation disposed obliquely of the collapsed standards; a supplemental how bridging said side-rails, the legs of said bow being connected to the respectiveextehsion; and 'lmk means interconnecting the supplemental bow with the outrigger section.

6.111 a collapsible top frame for vehicle bodies and the like, the combination of a bipartite main bow comprising anputrigger hoop section and a cantilever hoop section, the latter having a pair of side-rails pivotally adjoined to the legs of the outrigger hoop and adapted. to extend in substantial aligim'lent' therewith when raised over the body; a set of support standards pivotally connected to the respective sides of the body, the upper ends of the standards being kept below and spaced from said level of the raised side-rails; a guide-link provided for each side-rail which link is pivoted to its respective rail intermediate said rail ends and projects upwardly beyond the raised rail to serve as an extension, whilea'nother portion of the guide-link is pivotally connected to the said upper end port-ion of its support standard; a brace-link for each side rail which link is pivotally attached to its adj acent standard between the aforesaid guide link pivot and the bodypivot of the stand ard andalso pivoted to its side-rail forwardly of the guide-link pivot, said guide and brace links being disposed wholly forward of the standards and serving conjointly to guide said cantilever section into collapsed position alongside the respective standards a rear supplemental bow bridging said rails, the leg ends of said bow being pivotally connected to the respective link extensions by stop-joint means; a second or forward supplemental bow also bridging said rails, the leg ends thereof being pivotally'conuected to the respective rails; and link means interconnecting both the rear and forward supplemental bows with the -outrigger section serving to impart concordant action to all the component top elements between their extended and collapsed positions.

7. In a collapsible top forv vehicle bodies and the like, the combination of a bipartite main bow comprising an outrigger hoop section and a cantilever hoop section. the latter having a pair'of slat-iron side-rails pivotally adjoined to the legs of the outrigger hoop and adapted to extend in substantial alignment therewith when raised over the body, a set of support standards pivotally connected to the respective sides of the body and-disposed in vertical alignment with the respective side-rail slat irons, the upper ends of the standards being kept below and spaced from the raised side-rails; a guidelink for each side-rail of which link one portion is pivoted against the inner face of one slat-iron rail intermediate the rail ends and projects upwardly beyond the raised side rails to serve as an extension, while another portion of the guide-link is pivotally connected to said upper end portion of its adjacent standard; a brace-link for each of said rails which link is also pivoted against the inner face of its slat-iron rail but forwardly of said guide-link pivot to fall into substantial vertical alignment with its respeotive guide-link; a supplementalbow bridging said side-rails, the legs of said bow being respectively pivotally connected t'o-the respective link extensions; and 11111: means interconnecting the supplemental bow with the outrigger section. v

In testimonywhereof I have herewith set my hand this 29th day of December, 1925.

HAROLD GORDON MILLER. 

